Kirsten Gillibrand’s Stories of Sexism in Politics Will Make You Angry

You won’t believe what some older male senators have said to her.

Even women in positions of power deal with sexism, as evidenced in U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s upcoming book, Off the Sidelines (September 2014, Ballantine Books). In an excerpt published in People, the senator recounts inappropriate remarks she's been subjected to, ranging from, "Good thing you're working out because you wouldn't want to get porky!" to "Don't lose too much weight now. I like my girls chubby!" (she heard that one after she’d dropped 50 pounds). She says she was also given nicknames like “hottest member of the Senate” and “Honey Badger” from her political peers.

Most of the appearance-based comments were made during or after her pregnancy, and Gillibrand says she let them roll off her back—for the most part. "It was all statements that were being made by men who were well into their 60s, 70s, or 80s," she said, according to People. "They had no clue that those are inappropriate things to say to a pregnant woman or a woman who just had a baby or to women in general."

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In her book, Gillibrand resolves to turn the negative comments into motivation, focusing on issues like sexual harassment against women, especially in the military and in college. She also calls on women to demand just treatment and support each other, writing, “If we do, women will sit at every table of power making decisions.” In the meantime, she’ll do her part on Capitol Hill to drive discussion and change. “If I can work an issue like sexual assault on college campuses and drive a national narrative and know I’m making a difference, then whether or not we pass another bill in Congress, there’s still good things I can do.”

Gillibrand’s accounts are proof that no one is immune to sexism, no matter how strong, smart, or talented you are. It’s our job—and right—as women to stand up for ourselves and for our female peers.

Earlier this year, as part of National Women's Health Week, five female Senators—on both sides of the party line—wrote articles for Women's Health about how they're also making a difference for women across the country. Read their stories:

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